wondtype

Wondtype is a fictional mineral used in fantasy literature, role-playing games, and related media. It is depicted as a translucent crystal with a color-shifting core that glimmers under starlight. In many works, wondtype acts as a tangible focus for awe, enabling artifacts, spells, or devices to influence perception, memory, and mood. The term often appears as a class of crystal rather than a single specimen, with varieties described as bright, subtle, or shadowed depending on its formation.

Origin and etymology: The coinage 'wondtype' is commonly attributed to game designer communities in the late 20th or early 21st century, as a portmanteau of 'wonder' and 'type'. In-universe, ancient scholars reportedly found wondtype within geodes opened during celestial alignments, naming the mineral for its effect on observers.

Physical properties: Wondtype is highly refractive and birefringent. Its luminescence intensifies when near emotional extremes or intellectual challenge. It is usually found in hydrothermally formed veins in mountains or ruins, often in association with other minerals like aurite or prismerite. Handling wondtype typically requires containment because its effects can be intensified by proximity to certain stimuli.

Uses and effects: In fiction, wondtype is used to power devices that produce sensory illusions, amplify creative thought, or unlock latent memories. Some stories describe it as a link between cognition and emotion, guiding characters through ethical dilemmas or moments of insight. In gaming contexts, it may function as a resource granting bonuses or enabling special abilities.

Reception and variants: Wondtype has become a trope in speculative fiction and world-building guides, with numerous subtypes and artifact reputations. While generally treated as fictional, its concept raises questions about the relationship between wonder, cognition, and perception in storytelling.